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Game Blog: Jets vs Islanders

by
Staff Writer
/ Winnipeg Jets

GAME PREVIEW

The Winnipeg Jets (23-19-2) and the New York Islanders (23-16-5) meet Saturday afternoon in a game that carries with it significant playoff implications. The Islanders currently hold the seventh seed in the Eastern Conference, three points up on the Jets who were in ninth place entering action on Friday. A Jets regulation win would pull them within a point of the Islanders with three games remaining for either club. The home team has won each of the first two meetings of the season series. The Jets took the first meeting on Jan. 27 by a score of 5-4 in overtime before the Islanders responded with a 5-2 victory on Apr. 2

4:21: ISLANDERS GOAL: Frans Nielsen opened the scoring for the Islanders after he took a nice feed at the blueline from Kyle Okposo. Nielsen walked in alone to the middle of the circle and snapped it through the legs of Ondrej Pavelec. 1-0 Isles.

5:01: 40 seconds later, Grant Clitsome took the game's first penalty as he went off for hooking...the Islanders have the 6th best PP in the NHL.

Now a penalty against the #NHLJets. Not the kind of start they wanted with this charged up crowd against a strong time #nhljets@Ted_Wyman

10:42: JETS GOAL: Zach Bogosian put the Jets on the board to tie the game 1-1 midway through the opening period. Blake Wheeler dropped the puck off for Bogosian to blast a one-timer over the stick-side shoulder of Evgeni Nabokov.

12:14: ISLANDERS GOAL: Josh Bailey regained the Isles lead after Okposo sent him a nice pass from the corner to send a wrist shot past Pavelec's glove side. 2-1 Islanders.

Wouldn't you know it, with so much talk about #NHLJets needing to shut down John Tavares line, the #Isles 2nd unit has been flying so far #nhljets@WiebeSunSports

The period would come to an end with the Jets trailing the Islanders 2-1. The shots on goal were 11-4 in favour of New York.

9:47: ISLANDERS GOAL: Matt Martin made it 3-1 as he squeeked the puck past Pavelec in front from Jesse Joensuu and Lubomir Visnovsky.

10:27: JETS GOAL: Kyle Wellwood closed the gap to get the Jets back within one after Evander Kane wired a blast from the top of the circle that was stopped by Nabokov. The puck spit right out to Wellwood in front who waited patiently for Nabokov to go down for him to snap the puck into the open net. 3-2 Islanders.

13:24: JETS GOAL: Kyle Wellwood finds the back of the net again after Grant Clitsome found him racing across the blueline. Neck and neck with his defenders, he dangled the puck around both of them to put himself half a step in front...he took his time and made no mistake going upstairs on Nabokov. 3-3 tie.

19:12: Matt Martin and Zach Bogosian took roughing minors putting the game on 4-on-4. Then, 33 seconds later, Michael Grabner tried to clear the puck but was called for concealing the puck, putting the Jets on a brief 5-on-3.

The Jets banged away trying to give themselves the lead with the late opportunity...and just as the buzzer went, Kyle Wellwood blasted a slap shot that flew past Nabokov and into the back of the net ...but it was a split second too late and did not count.

This game has some serious jam to it. Going to be an unbelievable third period. This may be the loudest I have ever heard a rink. #nhljets@ShawnMcKenzie89

Through 40 minutes, the Jets and Islanders were all tied up 3-3. Shots on net were 23-13 Islanders.

THIRD PERIOD

Eric Tangradi blocked four shots on this one shift for #NHLJets and fans show their appreciation for the effort #nhljets@WiebeSunSports

9:13: ISLANDERS GOAL: Michael Grabner gives the Islanders their third lead of the day after Colin McDonald found him all alone in the crease in front of Pavelec. Grabner connected with the set up and shoveled it into the back of the net. 4-3 Isles.

I wouldn't say the Islanders are especially systems-oriented, but they do a lot of the unpleasant nitty-gritty stuff really well. #nhljets@pwilliamsNHL

17:59: JETS GOAL: With Vishnovsky in the box for interference, Bryan Little ties the game 4-4! Grant Clitsome blasted a shot from the top of the circle that made it on net but not in. Andrew Ladd got to it at the post and sent it over to Little at the back door. He kicked the puck to his stick and buried it into the back of the net.

Time would run out on regulation and the Jets earn a huge point after rallying to tie the game late. These two would need an extra round of minutes to see who will come away with the second point.

Overtime

For the third consecutive game, the Jets would need extra time to find a winner...

Regardless of what happens next, that's a big point for the #NHLets, rallying from down 3-1 and 4-3 late. #nhljets@WFPEdTait